By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – Although it’s summer break and most students spend their time at the pool or on vacation, this doesn’t mean study skills and other learning has to go out the window thanks to upcoming summer study seminars both middle schoolers, high schoolers and even college students can take advantage of in Helena.

Three separate seminars will be held all throughout the summer located at Christ Community Church in Helena.

The three seminars are Stronger Study Skills with Gwen Hood, a Roadmap for the Research Paper and Unlocking Literature–Keys to Analyzing a Novel with Susan Cunningham.

The stronger study skills seminar is a two-day seminar for rising 6th graders through college students that begins with the rationale (both biblical and practical) for developing solid, strong study skills. Using assessments, students will discover their learning style and will leave with specific applications and strategies based on that style. Topics also covered are time management/planning, organization, taking notes, handling distractions, anxiety, scanning and skimming, test taking, outlining and more. In-class exercises included. The cost for this seminar is $60 for the first child and $50 for each sibling. Discounts will be available for repeat attendees and a snack or dinner will be included. For more information or to pre-register, email Hood at 5hoods1416@bellsouth.net or text 541-3312.

The following are dates available for the stronger study skills seminar:

–June 17 and June 18 from 4:30-7:45 p.m.

–June 26 and June 27 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

–July 15 and July 16 from 4:30-7:45 p.m.

–July 29 and July 30 from 4:30-7:45 p.m.

–Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

–Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The roadmap for the research paper seminar is a two-hour workshop for rising 8th through 12th grade students that will walk through 10 steps involved in writing a research paper. The seminar will cover everything from how to choose a topic to documenting sources. Students will also learn an effective way to organize their material so that writing the actual paper will be much easier. In addition, students will receive a three-page checklist they can use repeatedly to check their papers. Parents are welcome to attend so that they will be equipped to help their child through the research process. References and bio available. The cost for this seminar is $30 for the first child and $25 for each sibling or parent. A snack will be included for morning workshops and dinner for evening workshops. For more information or to pre-register, email Cunningham at sus.cunningham@gmail.com or text 475-2349.

The following are dates available for the roadmap for research paper seminar:

–June 18 from 5-7:30 p.m.

–July 16 from 5-7:30 p.m.

–July 30 from 5-7:30 p.m.

–Aug. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

–Aug. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The unlocking literature–keys to analyzing a novel seminar is for both avid or casual readers. The seminar will help students analyze a novel and enhance the reading experience. This workshop will lay significant groundwork for any course in literature. The student will leave with a specific method that they can apply to any novel. Cunningham has taught literature for 20 years and over the years, she has developed a method that simplifies novel analysis.  As with all of her workshops, parents are welcome to attend. The seminar will cover the following:

–Identify and explain frequently used literary devices and key elements of a novel.

–Learn a notetaking method for literary analysis.

–Create a pattern for analysis that can be used for any novel.

–Gather evidence to support a literary thesis.

–Recognize the role worldview plays in literature.

The cost for this seminar is $30 for the first child and $25 for each sibling or parent. A snack will be included for morning and afternoon workshops and dinner for evening workshops. For more information or to pre-register, email Cunningham at sus.cunningham@gmail.com or text 475-2349.

The following are dates available for the unlocking literature seminar:

–June 17 from 5-7:30 p.m.

–July 15 from 5-7:30 p.m.

–Aug. 1 from 1-3:30 p.m.

–Aug. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Christ Community Church is located at 2222 Shelby County 52 in Helena.